After missing three during a general shoot around, Obama lined up with kids at the free throw line. The kids were asked to stand on opposite sides of the president based on whether they thought he would make it. Only one boy went to the "miss" side.

"Oh, man," the president declared, but the boy stood his ground (and rightly so). Obama took his shot. It hit the rim, circled and dropped outside.

The president then posed for pictures and went off to play tennis on the other side of the court.

Minutes later, at O for 4 the president, an avid basketball player, declared "I have to hit one shot before I go."

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And then it began. A series of painful misses and air balls.

After six more failed free throws, Obama traded balls. After 10 misses, he moved in closer. After 11, he tried a few layups.

After the president missed 13 shots in a row from various distances, 10-year old Kahron Campbell stepped in to help.

Campbell made the layup on his first try.

Then, finally, on his 18th attempt of the morning, the president made his layup.

"He couldn't make one. I had to help him out," Campbell later told pool reporters (off-camera).

Obama tried several more outside shots, finally hitting from the baseline on his 22nd total attempt, before leaving the court.